Eating healthy foods may who did not follow these diets at all, or

who adhered to them to a low degree.

lower depression risk
For example, the risk of depression over
By Agata Blaszczak Boxe Published the study period for the people who
September 21, 2015 moderately adhered to the Mediterranean
diet was about 25 to 30 percent lower
Following a diet rich
than for those who did not adhere to the
in produce and low in
diet at all, or who adhered to it only to a
processed meats
very small extent, the researchers found.
even if you don't do it
[7 Ways to Recognize Depression in 20-
perfectly may be
Somethings]
helpful in preventing
depression, "Even a moderate adherence to these
according to a large healthy dietary patterns was associated
new study. with an important reduction in the risk of
developing depression," Sanchez-Villegas
To lower the risk of depression, "People
told Live Science.
can eat everything, but everything in
moderation," as long as they try to eat lots Moreover, the researchers saw no extra
of vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish, and benefit for depression risk when
avoid fast food and processed meats, said participants followed the diets very
study author Almudena Sanchez-Villegas closely, compared with moderate
of the University of Las Palmas de Gran adherence, she said.
Canaria.
The researchers don't know for sure what
At the start of the study, researchers may explain the link between these
asked 15,000 Spanish university dietary patterns and people's risk of
graduates who had never had depression depression. However, one potential
what they normally ate. Then they asked mechanism is that people who follow
them again, 10 years later. these patterns may have a lower risk of
depression because they get adequate
The researchers looked at how closely the
levels of some micronutrients, such as B
participants' everyday diets adhered to
vitamins, folate or zinc all of which are
three healthy diet patterns that involved
essential to brain health, Sanchez-
consuming high amounts of fruits,
Villegas said.
vegetables, legumes, nuts and fish, and
avoiding processed meats. These Conversely, the people who don’t follow
principles are part of the Mediterranean these patterns may have a higher risk of
diet and other healthy diets. depression because of their nutrient
deficits, she said.
After 8.5 years, 1,550 people in the study
reported being diagnosed with depression Sanchez-Villegas' previous research,
or using antidepressant drugs. published in 2006 and 2009, also showed
a link between following a Mediterranean
The researchers found that the people in
diet and a lower risk of depression.
the study who stuck to the healthy
patterns to a moderate or a high extent The new study was published Sept. 16 in
had a lower risk of depression than those the journal BMC Medicine.

Taken from: FOX NEWS – Health section http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/21/eating-healthy-foods-may-lower-

depression-risk/ Task created and adapted by Karol Adrian Meza
Copyright 2015 LiveScience, a reserved.
TechMediaNetwork company. All rights

PART I. According to the previous text,

answer the following comprehension
questions/statements:
4. At the very beginning of the study,
1. The statement "People can eat
researchers interviewed university
everything, but everything in moderation,"
graduates. How long did it take for them to
can be interpreted in the next way:
be part of the study once again?
a) Individuals cannot eat everything they
a) A decade-long.
want. They have to eat all in moderated
portions. b) A period of 8.5 years.
b) You can eat all you want but in c) It is not mentioned.
reasonable portions.
5. Who’s the author of this news article?
c) You can have a balance between
eating all you desire and moderating the a) Agata Blaszczak Boxe
junk food you eat. b) A person who works for LiveScience
2. Which of the following foods do not take c) Almudena Sanchez-Villegas
part of the principles of Mediterranean and
other healthy diets?
a) Processed meats PART II. According to the statements
given, complete the chart with the
b) Nuts and fish appropriate numbers from the text.
c) Vegetables and legumes Example:
3. We can interpret the statement "Even a The date when this
moderate adherence to these healthy newspaper article was 21st/09/2015
dietary patterns was associated with an published
important reduction in the risk of
developing depression," by Mr. Sanchez-
Villegas in the following manner:
a) If you follow the healthy dietary habit
patterns in a reasonable way, the
possibility of depression may be reduced.
b) Adhering to healthy dietary habits
cannot reduce depression at all.
c) Depression is associated with
unhealthy dietary habits.

Taken from: FOX NEWS – Health section http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/21/eating-healthy-foods-may-lower-

depression-risk/ Task created and adapted by Karol Adrian Meza
I. The amount of
graduate students that
took part of the research
study.
II. The years when other
people were diagnosed
with depression.
III. The low percentages
of those who adhered to
the Mediterranean diet.
IV. The years when Mr.
Sanchez-Villegas
published his early
work.
V. The date when a new
study was published on
the journal.

Taken from: FOX NEWS – Health section http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/21/eating-healthy-foods-may-lower-

depression-risk/ Task created and adapted by Karol Adrian Meza